On this page
Craft guide
Accordion Paper Christmas Tree Craft with a Clay Stand
Make a small accordion paper Christmas tree that stands on its own, with soft sage branches, a simple golden circle at the top, and a smooth white clay base. Horizontal folds give the paper depth, while a wooden dowel supports the tree from the inside. It is a quiet little decoration for a shelf, holiday table, or handmade gift display.
This version uses one folded triangle rather than several separate branch pieces. The rounded topper and clay stand give it a different look from the star-topped trees in the reference. Children can help measure, cut, and fold, while an adult supervises the hole punching and checks that the finished stand is stable.
- Difficulty:
- Easy to medium
- Recommended age:
- 7+ with adult supervision
- Time needed:
- About 30–40 minutes, plus clay drying and glue-setting time
- Main materials:
- Sage cardstock, wooden dowel, air-dry clay, gold paper, tacky glue
- Finished craft:
- A freestanding accordion paper Christmas tree decoration
Materials You Will Need -
- One sheet of sage green cardstock, approximately 160–180 gsm, large enough for an 18 × 12 cm triangle.
- One small piece of matte mustard-gold cardstock for a 2 cm circle.
- One smooth, blunt wooden dowel, approximately 3 mm in diameter and 18 cm long, supplied precut.
- Approximately 50–70 g of warm white air-dry clay, enough for a flattened 5 cm diameter base about 1.5 cm thick. The required weight varies with the clay.
- Approximately 1 teaspoon of tacky craft glue; use only small dabs.
- Scrap paper to protect the work surface during gluing.
Tools You Will Need
Use scissors, a pencil, a ruler, a small hole punch with a roughly 3–4 mm opening, and a scrap piece of cardboard to support the paper. A bone folder is optional. An adult can use an awl on a suitable protective mat if a punch cannot reach the center, but children should not handle that tool.
How to Make an Accordion Paper Christmas Tree
1Step 1: Prepare the Paper and Stand Materials
Set out the cardstock, gold paper, dowel, clay, and glue on a clear table. Check that the dowel is smooth and has no splinters or pointed end. Choose paper that bends easily but holds a crease: very heavy card can become difficult to punch, while thin paper may sag.
Keep the clay wrapped until you need it. Plan a safe place where the assembled tree can stand while the clay dries. Drying is a separate waiting period, so allow another day or longer if the clay manufacturer recommends it.
2Step 2: Cut the Triangle and Round Topper
Draw a horizontal line 12 cm wide for the tree's bottom edge. Mark its midpoint, then measure 18 cm upward from that midpoint. Connect the upper point to both ends of the bottom line. Cut out the triangle carefully, keeping the two sloping edges even.
On the gold paper, draw and cut a circle 2 cm across. Put it aside for the final step. Save usable offcuts for another project, and clear the small scraps away before folding.
3Step 3: Accordion Fold and Make the Center Holes
Divide the triangle's height into 14 equal panels, approximately 1.286 cm each. Mark the fold positions lightly along both sloping sides. Fold along these horizontal positions, alternating forward and backward, so the paper forms a zigzag. Press each crease firmly without flattening the entire shape permanently.
Make one small hole through the horizontal center of each panel, halfway between its upper and lower fold lines. Work one panel at a time, opening the paper as needed. Do not force a punch through the full stack. Keep the hole in the narrow top panel especially small and centered to avoid tearing. Test it gently with the dowel; enlarge only if necessary.
4Step 4: Thread the Tree and Shape Its Clay Base
Slide the folded triangle onto the dowel through the holes, with the widest panel at the bottom. Let the folds open enough to show their depth while keeping the panels evenly spaced. Aim for a paper section about 11–12 cm tall; the exact height depends on how tightly you compress the folds.
Shape the clay into a flattened puck about 5 cm wide and 1.5 cm thick. Press the dowel about 1 cm into its center, leaving around 3 cm of trunk below the paper. Adjust the folds so a short section of dowel remains above the paper for the topper. Add a tiny dab of tacky glue at the bottom paper hole if the triangle slides. Check that the tree stands upright, then leave the clay undisturbed until fully dry according to its packaging.
5Step 5: Attach the Topper and Finish
Once the stand is dry and stable, glue the back of the gold circle to the exposed top of the dowel. Position it so it sits just above the paper tip. Lay or support the tree safely while that glue joint sets; follow the adhesive's directions rather than handling it immediately.
Check the stand again before displaying the tree. If the dowel has loosened as the clay dried, remove it, apply a little tacky glue inside the existing hole, and reinsert it. Let the repair set. Gently adjust the folds, without pulling hard on the narrow top panel, and wipe away any visible excess glue.
Easy Ways to Customize the Craft
Try dusty blue paper with a cream circle, or forest green with a copper-colored paper topper. Keep the circle lightweight. Children can draw small dots on the flat triangle before folding, but large glued decorations may weigh down the branches.
For a different size, make a new triangle and reassess the dowel length and stand width. Do not assume the original base will support a much taller tree. Make several separate trees if you want a group display, allowing space between their branches.
Where to Use or Display It
Place the tree on a bookshelf, entry table, or dry indoor windowsill. It can also decorate a classroom shelf or accompany a wrapped holiday gift. At a dinner table, keep it away from glasses and serving dishes so spills do not reach the paper.
For storage, put the tree in a shallow box with room around the folds. Protect the circle topper from bending and avoid stacking anything on the paper branches. The clay base should be completely dry before packing.
